Having endured a torrid mid-season slump over previous weeks, the misery continues to be piled on for Ralph Hasenhuttl after news emerged of a promising Southampton loanee suffering a ligament injury.
Callum Slattery is set to be sidelined with ankle ligament damage for a number of weeks, but the injury does not appear to be so serious as to force the annulment of his loan to seek treatment at his parent club. He had made six appearances for Gillingham since joining the League One side on loan in January.
As noted by Hampshire Live, the injury could nonetheless be severe enough that the Gills do not enjoy the services of their loanee until as late as April. Their manager Steve Evans outlined: “He will be three or four weeks. He has got a couple of ligaments in his ankle that are bruised. He will probably be mid to end of March.”
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The injury is certainly not a welcome development for all parties concerned, and it could have a malign effect on Slattery’s development.
Hasenhuttl has shown a willingness to offer Premier League chances to youngsters this season – with Nathan Tella and Alexandre Jankewitz as case studies – and there is nothing to say that Slattery wouldn’t have been a part of that same core of young talent after his loan spell. With just half a season to impress, injury could leave a major void in what was always going to be a time-constrained spell to develop.
Still, this setback could prove to be a surprise opportunity in a character-defining spell of recovery which could see Slattery come back stronger physically and mentally, having fought hard to regain full fitness.
